Hittle's defense attorney, Robert McClelland, argued that Hittle's Miranda Rights had not been given at the time of his arrest and so some of his statements while in the police car should be inadmissible as evidence.

During a hearing this week in Muskingum County Common Pleas Court, Muskingum County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Williams testified that he arrested Hittle on May 14 after a domestic incident and while Hittle was in the back of his squad car, Hittle made several comments and asked Williams questions.

Williams said he had not given Hittle his Miranda Rights because he was not officially interrogating him. Beyond short responses, Williams did not respond to Hittle at all, he said.

"He was making spontaneous utterances," Williams said.

Those utterances included asking whether police only arrest the man in these situations and that he was only being arrested because he was a man, Williams said.

"I wasn't questioning him," Williams said.

Common Pleas Judge Mark Fleegle ruled that no questioning or interrogation had taken place and the statements were admissible.

Hittle's trial is scheduled for Oct. 24. Details about his charges have not been released by officials.